Grammar 101
문법 Mun-beop. Put the verb at the end and mark nouns with particles.
1. Sentence Structure: SOV
English usually uses Subject - Verb - Object: "I drink water." Korean puts the verb at the end: Subject - Object - Verb.
English (SVO)
I drink water.
Korean (SOV)
나 물 마셔요.
Na mul masyeoyo (I water drink)
Wait for the last word. That is often where you hear whether someone asks, states, or commands.
2. Particles
Korean attaches short particles to nouns. These particles show each word's role in the sentence. English uses word order and prepositions for much of that work. Korean puts the marker after the noun.
은 / 는: topic or contrast
Use 은 / 는 to mark the topic or set up a contrast.
- •Use 은 after a consonant (e.g., 학생은)
- •Use 는 after a vowel (e.g., 나는)
이 / 가: subject of the action
Use 이 / 가 for the specific subject of the action.
- •Use 이 after a consonant (e.g., 물이)
- •Use 가 after a vowel (e.g., 사과가)
을 / 를: object
Use 을 / 를 for the object: the thing the action targets.
- •Use 을 after a consonant (e.g., 물을)
- •Use 를 after a vowel (e.g., 차를)
Putting it together
제가 차를 마셔요.
Je-ga (Subject) + Cha-reul (Object) + Masyeoyo (Verb)
"I drink tea."
Practice Particles
Find these particles in Vocabulary, then build your own sentences.